Move over kitchen, the family room has become a favorite communal place in the house
By Debra Cano Ramos, Tribune Media Services
Move over kitchen, the family room has become a favorite communal place in the house.
It’s a multifunctional room that provides space to lounge on a plushy sofa in front of the TV, a retreat where you can find solace with a good book, a spot where children play with toys and adults play board games, and the perfect place for gracious entertaining and conversation.
“The family room is a gathering spot for the family to do homework, use the computer, eat dinner, play games or just hang out—everything about it should be super comfy, from fabrics to storage,” said Stephanie Gans, style manager at Ethan Allen, a furniture manufacturer and retailer based in Danbury, Conn.
The best family rooms, author Judith Wilson writes in her book, “Family Living” (Ryland Peters & Small), are cozy enough for lazy Sunday afternoons, chic enough for grown-up entertaining, and flexible in their furniture layout to accommodate large numbers of people, especially on holidays.
From innovations in fabrics that allow spills to be easily wiped up to clever décor tips, the ideas are endless on how to make the room comfortable, as well as practical and durable, for kids, pets and everyone else.
For starters, comfort is the No. 1 priority, said Jim White, senior designer for Macy’s.
“That means having the correct scale of furniture for your body size,” White said.
There once was a trend for oversize sofas, but nowadays, families may not have the space for such large pieces, yet they still want comfort, support and durability, he said.
Families seem to be buying sofas that are a little longer and deeper than a traditional-size sofa, said Dave Glassman, Restoration Hardware’s marketing director.
“They want something that’s great for curling up and reading a book on, for two adults to comfortably stretch out on, or that seats three adults for easy entertaining.”
Sectionals with chaise lounge seating, for example, offers the best of both form and function, he added.
Choosing the right upholstery fabric is critical: You need a material that can be cleaned effortlessly, yet keeps its quality and look.
Ideal fabrics for family rooms include leather, chenille and microfiber, said Gans, who also develops textiles for Ethan Allen.
“Fabrics in family rooms are becoming more family-friendly,” Gans said, adding that chenilles are soft, but forgiving, making them ideal for family living.
Noted White: “The strong selling point for microfiber is that it is washable with soap and water.”
Leather sofas and chairs continue to be trendy and are easy to maintain, but choose those in darker, rich tones, rather than white, Wilson cautioned.
A newer look that works well for family living and is known for its high performance is an indoor-outdoor fabric, Gans said. Acrylics, for instance, are durable and can take a beating from heavy usage, kids’ spills, even crayon marks — and best of all, can be wiped easily, she added.
With fall just around the corner, the ways to add a touch of the season include bringing out the blankets and throws, since “there is nothing more cozy than a snugly throw covering you while watching TV or playing games,” Gans said.
Area rugs will not only pull the room together, but also define a space and create coziness.
“It may be the rug that makes an otherwise disjointed room become a beautiful room,” White said. “An area rug may also be the focal point to a space that otherwise may lack one; and, it can provide pattern and color to a backdrop of pieces of furniture that is very plain and unexciting.”
Splashes of color also can tie the room together, designers say. And yes, it’s OK to celebrate color in a family room — on upholstery, pillows, draperies and area rugs, even the walls.
Rich earth tones continue to remain strong colors for fall, including browns, along with reds (cranberry and paprika, too); oranges, from terra cotta to bright pumpkin; hues of blues; and mossy to leaf and lime greens.
“The combinations of blue and green, red and orange, aubergine and lime are strong on the market,” White noted.
Wilson suggested that if you are nervous about using a pattern for walls or upholstery, then introduce it on smaller accessories, such as a graphic rug, or a small armchair upholstered in an abstract, retro flower print.
Remember when you are furnishing this room that it can become a magnet for clutter — scattered toys and stacks of magazines, DVDs and books. So instead of using open shelving, which still needs to be tidy to look good, Wilson advised choosing cupboards with doors. Inside, load up the shelves with labeled baskets or boxes so everyone will know where stuff should be put back.
Storage trunks are not only an attractive accent piece, but add versatility, said Lisa Ridolfi, spokeswoman for Crate and Barrel and The Land of Nod. A trunk can double as a coffee table for entertaining, or as a discreet place to stash stuff.
Another easy storage alternative is the ottoman.
Although it’s fun to update a family room with the latest design trends, Wilson said one should always keep in mind the purpose of this space. “It is absolutely vital to create a space that is cozy and — above all — practical, so that no one is nervous about a drink being spilled or sticky fingers. Add some entertainment — not just the TV and computer — but good old-fashioned family games, jigsaws and photo albums, so that it’s an inviting place to be.
“Most of all, get the kids involved in planning the scheme, and if the rest of the house is very grown-up, let them add some trendy detailing, such as a shag-pile carpet, (an) abstract-print wallpaper on one wall, or a beaded curtain strung across the doorway. It will end up being everybody’s favorite room.”
